The tips presented below are purely suggestive, not mandatory, and not exhaustive. They should be evaluated by the team in each case.
PROBLEM
GOOD PRACTICES
- Develop a flexible Business Case
- Chose the correct solution to the problem defined
- Assess the financial and technical viability for the solution
- Validate the solution before the project start
- Define how the solution will be implemented and validate this strategy with the client
- Develop the product by means of iterations
TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES
- Business Analysis
- Structured Problem Solving Process
- Alternatives Analysis
- NPV, IRR, ROI, Pay Back, Scenarios Simulations
- Front End Loading, Stage Gate, Iterations
- Business Case, Project Charter
PLANS
GOOD PRACTICES
- Develop formal plans at the beginning of the project with as much detail as possible
- Create formal change processes
- Adapt the plans at the end of each phase, stage or release
TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES
- Plans templates
- Project Changes forms
- Change management processes
SCOPE
GOOD PRACTICES
- Conduct scope definition meetings
- Define the preliminary project scope
- Adapt the scope at the end of each phase, stage or release
TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES
- Scope Statement
- WBS and WBS Dictionary
- Backlogs
- Backlog prioritization techniques
RESOURCES
GOOD PRACTICES
- Define the resources to all project phases
- Acquire the resources and guarantee their availability during the project
- Develop the resources during the project
- Define responsibilities
- Create performance indicators for the resources
TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES
- Resources estimation techniques
- Resources negotiation
- Teambuilding
- RACI Matrix
- Conflict Management
TIME
GOOD PRACTICES
- Develop activities dependencies
- Sequence the activities
- Estimate durations
- Create formal schedules
- Define a schedule baseline and approve it
- Adapt the schedule at the end of each phase, stage or release
TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES
- Parametric estimates
- Triangular estimates
- Weighted estimates
- Gantt Charts
- Critical Path
COST
GOOD PRACTICES
- Estimate costs
- Develop a formal project budget
- Estimate management reserves
- Establish a financial disbursement plan
- Formalize the project budget
- Adapt the budget at the end of each phase, stage or release
TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES
- Top-down or Bottom-up analysis
- Parametric estimates
- Triangular estimates
- Weighted estimates
- Reserve Analysis
QUALITY
GOOD PRACTICES
- Develop acceptance criteria for the products
- Develop plans on how the products must be developed
- Define processes to guarantee the quality
- Define tests to be executed
- Execute tests according to the plans
TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES
- PDCA
- Statistical Controls
- Tests and inspections
- Data Analysis
- Check Lists
- Cause-effect Diagrams
- Histograms
- Control Charts
- Root-cause Analysis
- Satisfaction forms
RISKS
GOOD PRACTICES
- Identify risks with cause and effect
- Qualitative risks measures
- Quantitative risk measures
- Plan risk responses
- Develop formal risk management plans
- Communicate risks to stakeholders
- Monitor the effectiveness of risk responses
- Risks reassessments in a timely manner
TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES
- Brainstorming
- Interviews
- Questionnaires
- Risk Matrix
- Expected Monetary Value
- Monte Carlo Simulation
- Risk Breakdown Structure
- Risk Register
- Risk Management Canvas